‘Hit’ on Blue Bull: betrayed woman stands by mom

PRETORIA — Jalien Reyneke (20), the daughter of the woman who was arrested for allegedly hiring two Nigerians to kill Blue Bulls and Sevens rugby player, Deon Helberg (21), is firmly standing by her mother.

She said Helberg had a relationship with her and with her mother, Manda (47).

“It really hurts when the two people closest to you — your boyfriend and your mother — do things like that behind your back.”

The young woman said her mother never intended to have Helberg killed, but only wanted to “destroy him mentally”, which he had allegedly done to the Reyneke family.

Helberg’s mother, Marlene, told reporters earlier that she had spoken to Manda Reyneke after her arrest. Manda told her she had not meant initially for Deon to die, that she only wanted “his legs to be broken so that he couldn’t play rugby anymore”.

She apparently told Helberg’s mother: “I’m sorry, I can’t help it, I still love him [Deon].”

Her daughter Jalien, a Tuks student and part-time model, started a relationship with the rugby player when both were pupils at the HTS Middelburg High School in Mpumalanga. Helberg was in boarding school and two months later, he moved in with Jalien and her family. Her parents, Manda and Dr Dave Reyneke, were still married at the time.

“Deon had a very troubled background. We showed him what money was. We weren’t rich, but we had money. He was like a son to my mom and dad. They even bought him a car,” told Jalien.

“As my mom bought him more stuff, he started doing little things for her … Deon and my mom fought like man and wife, which was very strange.”

She then found an SMS that her mother had sent to Helberg and immediately sent him packing.

She found out that he had cheated on her and her mother with other girls. Although her father wanted to save his marriage, it was too late.

Jalien said that although she and her mother did not speak for a while, they sorted out their problems. She said the whole family now supports her mother.

She said her mother did not want to have Helberg killed, only to teach him a lesson.

The Nigerians allegedly wanted more money and pressured her, eventually changing her instructions to murder.

“My mother had no chance against the Nigerians. They wanted to milk her for money. She’s innocent. Everything will be revealed in court.

“Deon ruined our family. He wants to have his bread buttered on both sides.”

Friends of Manda Reyneke reacted with shock to the allegations, saying they could not believe it. They described her as a kind, gentle and intelligent person who was a wonderful mother.

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